The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has completed Cold Hydrostatic Testing at Unit 2 of the Barakah nuclear plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The milestone comes a year after the same tests were completed at Barakah 1.
ENEC said the CHT has verified that welds, joints, pipes and components of the reactor coolant system and associated high-pressure systems comply with regulations of the UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR).
“Achieving CHT for Unit 2 is of great significance to the Barakah project,” said Mohamed Al Hammadi, chief executive officer of ENEC. “As the delivery of the four nuclear units progresses, we ensure that all of the organisations working on the Barakah plant – the biggest nuclear construction project in the world – continuously look to improve the delivery of our programme.”
Before starting the CHT, the Barakah 2 nuclear steam supply systems (NSSS) were flushed with demineralized water, and the reactor pressure vessel head and reactor coolant pump seals were installed. The reactor coolant pumps were used to circulate previously processed water through the primary circuit for the testing phase.
The tests involved Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), along with ENEC and Nawah Energy Company, which was set up earlier this year to maintain and operate the plants.
Construction of Barakah, the UAE’s first nuclear plant, started in 2009 and overall, construction is more than 82% complete.When completed, Barakah is expected to supply up to 25% of the electricity demand in the UAE.
Photo: Barakah 1-4 pictured in May 2017 (Credit: ENEC)
